Archive for June, 2009
What Are Pandora-Style Beads?
Pandora-style beads are fun to buy and fun to wear. Fun to wear because you can change out the beads to suit your whim. Fun to buy because they aren't all that expensive, so you can get a bunch!
Let's talk a little about what makes up a Pandora-style bead, lampwork-style.
What Are Pandora-Style Beads
Pandora-Style Beads (Click for larger image)
If you haven't quite heard the term before, you may be wondering what the heck these beads are. Or, you may have heard the term but aren't quite sure why they are called as such.
Here's the background: a company in Denmark came up with a bracelet that they termed Pandora. It's a metal bracelet with screws at one end, upon which beads can be slid. Unscrew the bracelet and slide on the beads. Once the beads are on, the end is screwed on tight and voila! Instant bracelet.
You can change out the beads at any time, simply by unscrewing the end, sliding off the beads, and putting on new ones. Cool, huh?
I've seen the bracelets as both a rigid frame as well as a snake chain.
Others have made bracelets of the same style in leather, too! So you have quite a few options and price points.
Pandora, Troll and Biagi - Oh My
Pandora Silver Bracelet (Click for larger image)
There are three different manufacturers creating similar bracelets. The bracelets are relatively the same in diameter, with Troll being the smallest by a hair. In general, beads that fit the Pandora or Biagi bracelets will also fit a Troll.
However, beads made specifically for a Troll bracelet may not fit Pandora or Biagi.
There's also a fourth new kid on the block -- Chamilla. These bracelets tend to have a more bangle-y stype. Any bead fitting a Pandora or Biagi will fit Chamilla (not sure about Troll-size).
What Makes the Beads Different?
Unique Pandora-Style Lampwork Beads
One thing that makes these beads different is the size of their hole. To be able to slide onto the bracelet, the bead hole needs to be pretty big. The standard hole size is between 4.4mm and 5mm.
In general you don't want the bead to be too large in overall size, because it subtracts from the interior diameter of the bracelet. In other words, it gives you less room for your wrist. 14mm to 16mm seems a decent diameter size for your average bead. And of course you can put in a few larger (or smaller) beads for accents!
Buying the Beads and Bracelet
Here's something interesting. If you buy the "official" lampwork beads on the "official" websites, or at a jewelry store, you're probably paying more than they are worth. Why?
On the official websites, the lampwork beads start at $25 and go up. And frankly, they are plain and boring. Or to put it another way...if I were making and selling the "official" beads, I'd probably charge in the neighborhood of $7. Less if they weren't silver-cored.
Now granted, I am biased towards artisan lampwork beads, but in all honesty, they are far more lovely. And you can very easily find "plain" beads to fit these bracelets for far less money. You can also purchase absolutely gorgeous, detailed, knock-your-socks-off lampwork beads for similar prices. And they are beads you won't see many (if any) others wearing.
If you'd like to see my beads in particular, please visit my lampwork store. You'll find plenty of Pandora style lampwork beads, along with other styles, too!
Immediately below are the Pandora-style beads that are artisan-made; one look and you'll see the difference. Below them are the Pandora and Pandora-style bracelets. As always, click the link for a larger image and more information.
(And in addition to what you see below, here's a link to .)
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 big hole bead pandora troll Green Goddess HollysFolly glass sra lampwork jewelry  US $.99
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 Purple Playthings Big Hole Glass Bead Set Pandora Troll HollysFolly sra lampwork US $12.99
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 NEW Pandora Sterling Silver Bracelet 71 inch US $45.00
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 Pandora Bracelet US $25.00
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 AUTHENTIC PANDORA STERLING SILVER 925 ALE BRACELET W COBALT BLUE MURANO GLASS US $187.97
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Different Kinds of Bead-Making Glass
If you've not made beads, you may be wondering about the different kinds of glass you read about. For example, borosilicate, Moretti, reactive, etc. What is the difference in the kinds of glass? Let's talk about it!
Is There a Difference?
Boro Beads "Sunfire" (Click for larger image)
There is definitely a difference when a lampworker is making a bead. For example, borosilicate ("boro") glass takes more heat and higher kiln temperatures to make the beads. On the other end of the spectrum is Check soda glass, which is almost drippy to work with (but comes in such luscious colors).
So temperature in making the beads is one thing. But what about just buying the beads -- do the various glasses make a difference? In a word - yes.
Bead Glass Colors
Here's something interesting -- some colors are really hard to produce in some types of glasses. For example, a true peach color is next to impossible in a Moretti-type glass (COE 104 for you lampwork mavens). A true pink is also hard to achieve. Not to mention a royal purple!
So one difference is color -- certain colors need specific kinds of lampworking glass. And some colors are more expensive for a lampworker to buy, which may translate into a higher price per bead or bead set.
Irridescent Beads
Irridescent Glass Bead Set (Click for larger image)
Some beads have an irridescent shine, which is sometimes referred to as an "oil slick" look. The shine can reflect one color or many colors, depending on the viewing angle.
These beads are made from what is called "silver glass". Which basically means that varying amounts of silver are included in the glass along with different color elements. And the result? Glorious!
The picture to the right demonstrates that wonderful range of metallic colors that can be achieved with silvered glass.
What About Boro?
Boro is such a different glass that it really deserves its own post. And although many of the special effects that used to be the domain of boro can now be produced with 104 COE glass, boro still has its own uniqueness.
I think that for any bead that has super-thin spots or has an organic shape, boro is the way to go. Boro is stronger than regular glass (think Pyrex), and can handle a little more wear and tear. Still, it is glass, and as glass, it can break, so keep that in mind if the glass will he handled a lot.
Different Bead Making Glass Results
While each glass type has its charms, as well as flaws, there's one thing they all have in common. And it's that the beads made from them are beautiful, each in its own right.
While I tend to favor the silvered glasses when lampworking, I love collecting beads of every sort. From plain to fancy and everywhere in between, they are miniature works of art.
And in addition to what you see below, here's a link to .
I'll leave you with some more eye candy, in the way of bead auctions. Feel free to click for larger photos.
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 PIKALDAhandmade lampwork 8 beadsPINK ROSE BUBBLESRA US $25.00
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 ROA Lampwork 10 Pink Handmade Art Disc Glass Beads SRA US $8.24
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 BG Designs Handmade Lampwork Beads Pink Beach Glass 75 US $35.99
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Handmade Lampwork Beads – Prices
Now that you know something about artisan handmade lampwork beads, what about prices? Sure, they are more than the mass-produced kind, but what can you expect, price-wise. Let's take a look.
And the Price Is...
I mentioned in the artisan bead post that I've seen a single bead sell for over $100. I also mentioned that most artisan beads are nowhere near that in price! That being the case, what can you expect? Let's go by bead type.
- Focal beads are generally larger than 20mm in size, which just about 7/8 of an inch. The average focal is between 25mm and 40mm. An artisan focal bead can easily go for over $100, but in general the price is between $20 and $50.
- Bead sets are made of (on average) 7 to 9 beads, but can be fewer or more. The beads can be round or in different shapes such as pillows, lentils, squares, flowers and even more shapes! Beads in sets are smaller, and tend to be between 10 and 18mm in size (naturally there are always exceptions). I've seen artisan bead sets go for over $2,000 but a more average price is between $3 and $10 per bead. So a 7-bead artisan set could cost anywhere from $21 to $70 on average.
Naturally, prices depend on the skill of the artist and the complexity of the bead. Expect to pay more for a well-known bead artist, as well as for very complex beads.
FYI, small plain round spacers (single color) tend to go for between 50 cents and $1 per bead.
Should You Buy 99 Cent Beads?
What about the $1 beads that can be found on the ebay auction site? Some bead artists start their auctions at low prices, like 99 cents, to encourage bidding. Sometimes the beads aren't bid up very much, especially for a bead artist new to ebay.
If you see an auction with a very low price that looks interesting, please read the auction details to make sure the seller is a self-representing artist. Also look for the words kiln annealed.
Yes, there are bargains to be had. Just don't pay artisan bead prices for non-artisan beads. And buy appropriately for your project. "Fun" jewelry doesn't need expensive lampwork. Heirloom-quality jewelry shouldn't use production-made lampwork.
And if you have any questions, just ask the buyer directly.
Artisan Bead Examples
One thing that continues to amaze me are the figural beads that I see on ebay. Below you can see some beads made in the form of fish that are truely awe-inspiring. But of you want more than just fish, here's a link to .
As always, click the link to see larger photos and to get more information. Have fun!
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Artisan Beads
What makes a single bead worth $100 or more? Is it the materials or the artist who designed and created the bead? And although most artisan beads aren't anywhere near $100 per bead, they all share something in common.
They were all created out of a love of beads.
About Artisan Beads
The most common type of artisan bead is glass lampwork. Basically, the bead artist takes rods of glass as big around as a pencil (more or less) and a foot long and melt them in a flame. It has to be a hot flame, so a special torch is required -- if gives literal meaning to the phrase, "playing with fire"! The melted glass is shaped into round or other shaped beads, then decorated with care.
SRA - Self-Representing Artist
You may or may not have heard the term self-representing artist when it comes to beads. What exactly does it mean?
Basically self-representing means that the person whose name is attached to the bead is the person who made it. It also includes the person's immediate family. For example, my studio name is "TasminAnn Studio". This could cover both myself and my husband...but not my niece, nephew, cousins or friends. (And in my case, I'm the only one in the studio since my husband gave up trying to make beads.)
There has been somewhat of a furor over some big "studios" selling lampwork not physically made in the studio. The lampwork is made elsewhere, sent to the studio where the bead sets are arranged and assembled. This is equivalent to someone buying a lot of beads from various locations, mixing them up into different "sets" and then representing those bead sets as being made by them.
There's nothing wrong at all with selling bead collections. What is wrong is claiming that you made the beads when you didn't.
Know What You're Buying
Artisan beads are made one-at-a-time. Most bead artists I know don't like to keep making the same colors and styles over and over again. For the most part, we are constantly trying new colors, designs and shapes. It's part of the charm of artisan beads, that you won't see the beads you bought on other people.
What To Expect
True artisan-quality lampwork will always:
- Be kiln-annealed. When a bead is made, it undergoes a lot of stress, with the heating and cooling. Annealing the beads in a kiln "relaxes" the beads so they are less prone to cracking.
- Have smooth holes. There should be no sharp edges to the holes that can snag materials or even cut beading wire.
- Be cleaned of bead release. Bead release is a powdery white material that coats the mandrel while the bead is being made. It it wasn't for the bead release, the bead would simply melt onto the mandrel and never come off. Now it's always possible that a bead artist might miss a spot of bead release when cleaning the beads, but artisan-quality beads will never be full of bead release that you will have to try and clean.
So when you look at the photos, check the close-ups. Also be sure to read the particulars of the beads (like if they were kiln-annealed and possibly what kind of glass was used). And in addition to what you see below, here's a link to .
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 JMoore Handmade Glass Lampwork Beads MINI SET MS 395 US $3.55
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 Lampwork Glass Beads Blue 3 Flower Heart Pendant 1pc US $2.99
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 Handmade Lampwork Glass Spacers Beads Ivory US $10.00
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 10pcs Mixed Lampwork Glass Beads Flower Heart Pendant US $19.99
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 15 JMoore Studios Handmade Lampwork Spacer Beads SP204 US $1.75
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 5 JMoore Handmade Lampwork Beads CARIBOU 5 356A US $3.11
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